http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091027005905/en
--(Business Wire)--
The American Legion:
WHO: Members of The American Legion, the editor of The American Legion blog "Burn Pit" and Target Stores team members.
WHAT: Legionnaires will gather at the Target Store and purchase thousands of dollars worth of DVDs, video games, books, magazines and other comfort items for surviving Fort
Carson- based Bravo Troop 3-61 Cavalry soldiers who remain in Afghanistan or are recovering from battle. The items will be transported from the store to American Legion
Post 28 for a packing and shipping party.
WHEN: Thursday, October 29, 2009 beginning at 10 a.m.
WHERE: First location: The Target Store: 4310 Fortuna Center Plaza, Dumfries, Va.
Second location: American Legion Post 28 at 17934 Liming Lane, Triangle, Va.
WHY: An Oct. 3 attack on a U.S. Army combat outpost in the rugged Nuristan province of Afghanistan claimed the lives of eight American soldiers. Fifty-six survivors of the
attack were forced to call in a strike on their own position, intentionally destroying the camp and all of their personal possessions. The troops escaped with little more
than the clothes on their backs. Soon afterward, a soldier from the ill-fated Bravo Troop 3-61 Cavalry out of Fort Carson, Colo., sent an e-mail to The American Legion.
He wrote that "most people at home don`t even know…no one gives a …" His plea were posted on The American Legion Burn Pit blog along with a call for donations to help the
soldiers replace their personal items. The COP Keating Relief Fund was established with a goal of raising $16,800 to buy the soldiers I-Pods to help them pass the time
and help relieve them from the strain of combat stress. Within five days, the Combat Outpost Keating Relief Fund raised more than $50,000 in cash donations from visitors
of The American Legion Burn Pit. Target matched that with a contribution of $50,000 in merchandise and Target Gift Cards. Computer Science Corp. of Connecticut announced
plans to donate 56 laptop computers.
The American Legion
Mark Seavey
Burn Pit Editor
Cell Phone: 703-731-8237
mseavey@legion.org
or
The American Legion DC HQ
Media Contact:
Craig Roberts, 202-263-2982
Copyright Business Wire 2009
